DINAH
(Akst, Lewis, Young)
Dinah was first a hit for Ethel Waters in 1926 and eventually charted at least 9 times during the next 20 years by various artists. The only version to reach No. 1, however, was a impromptu collaboration of Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers on Dec. 16, 1931. Bing arrived as an uninvited guest at a Mills Brothers recording session and soon found himself in the middle of a jam session. Their spontaneous romp through "Dinah" so impressed the crew that "Dinah" was laid to wax. Three weeks later the recording sat atop the charts. Bing's 1931 Dinah bears little resemblance to the insipid recording he made with the Buddy Cole Trio in 1953. In the original, after a laid-back first chorus, Bing breaks into a scat and the young Dinah jumps for joy.
Listen to an excerpt of Bing and the Mills Brothers singing "Dinah."
(MP3 audio format, 1:34 minutes, 1931).
Dinah
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her
Show her to me.
Dinah
Got those Dixie eyes blazin'
How I love to sit and gazin'
To the eyes of Dinah Lee.
Every night why do I
Shake with fright?
Cause my Dinah might
Change her mind about me.
Oh, Dinah
Should you wander to China
I would hop an ocean liner
Just to be with Dinah Lee.
Mills bros repeat verse.
Bing scats.
Every night why do I
Shake with fright?
Cause my Dinah might
Change her mind about me.
The name of this song is Dinah.
Said it.
The name of this song is Dinah.
Snag it.
The name of this song is Dinah.
Ah, Tell it.
The name of this song is Dinah.
Dinah
wander to China,
the state of Carolina
Listen, and you know her
I would like to have you show her to me.
Dinah
Got those Dixie eyes blazin'
How I love to sit and gazin'
To the eyes of Dinah Lee.
Oh, Dinah
Should you wander to China
I would get me an ocean liner
Just to be with Dinah Lee.